Everyday Consumer

A laptop keyboard with a shopping trolley picture on a key A laptop keyboard with a shopping trolley picture on a key

Changes to the Australian Consumer Law will clarify prices for people shopping online. From 26 October 2019, businesses must include all charges in the advertised price of goods and services payable by a consumer. This includes charges for pre-selected options.  Currently, a business can advertise a low price; during the buying process, they may add extra…

Read More Businesses to display all charges up front

A blow-up swimming ring in a pool A blow-up swimming ring in a pool

Being around water is part of everyday Australian life, however drowning is one of the major causes of unintentional death for Australian children. In 2017/18, 18 Australian children aged 0-4 years drowned. The majority of these incidents occurred in backyard swimming pools. Pool and spa barriers can be effective in reducing the risk of drowning…

Read More Standard on safety barriers for swimming pools is open for public comment

There are thousands of products available in Australia, with each being produced by multiple brands. To ensure that these products work safely, the Australian product safety system relies on the cooperation of consumers, suppliers, and government agencies. More information here. The Commonwealth Treasury is undertaking a consultation on Improving the Effectiveness of the Consumer Product Safety System by…

Read More Seeking views from consumers on their experiences relating to product safety

Two people on a quad bike Two people on a quad bike

The ACCC has welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to improve the safety of quad bikes by introducing a new safety standard. The decision was announced by Assistant Treasurer the Hon Michael Sukkar today. The safety standard has three elements: improved information for potential purchasers, enhanced quad bike stability, and rollover protection to reduce injuries and…

Read More ACCC welcomes new quad bike safety standard

A lightbulb A lightbulb

Innovation is an increasingly important contributor to the success of an organization, enhancing its ability to adapt in a changing world. Consumers’ Federation of Australia has recently appointed a representative to Standards Australia’s Technical Committee MB-279 Innovation management mirroring the work of ISO TC 279. Consumers are integral to the innovation process since they have more know-how,…

Read More Innovation management and consumers

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World Standards Day will be on 14 October 2019. World Standards Day promotes the role of standards in meeting the needs of consumers, industry, business and government. Consumers’ Federation Australia takes this opportunity to thank all the CFA Standards representatives participating on Standards Australia Technical Committees who ensure that standards address the concerns of everyday Australians.  This…

Read More World Standards Day 14 October 2019: “Video standards create a global stage”

A view of the steering wheel of a car from behind the driver A view of the steering wheel of a car from behind the driver

Major car manufacturers, including BMW, GM Holden, Honda, Mitsubishi and Toyota, are warning that 20,000 vehicles already under recall for defective Takata airbags are now classified as “critical”. The ACCC is urging consumers not to drive these cars at all until the airbag has been replaced. “Cars with airbags listed as ‘critical’ should not be…

Read More Urgent safety alert for ‘critical’ Takata airbags

A navy blue piece of fabric being sewn by a sewing machine A navy blue piece of fabric being sewn by a sewing machine

When we look at our global consumption in numbers, we are given a stark reminder of the task ahead. Around the world, nearly one million plastic bottles are sold every minute, and five trillion pieces of plastic are floating in our oceans. We buy over 80 billion new clothing items a year, and consume 3.9 billion tonnes…

Read More Five trends driving progress towards Sustainable Consumption

A gift card for fifty dollars. On it a photo of a child eating popcorn at the cinema A gift card for fifty dollars. On it a photo of a child eating popcorn at the cinema

Consumers’ Federation Austrlaia welcomes the introduction of new gift card laws that start on 1 November 2019. The new rules will help stop gift cards going to waste or being eroded by fees and charges. All gift cards bought from 1 November will come with a minimum three-year expiry period, with the expiry date clearly…

Read More New national gift card laws a win for consumers

Cans of food stacked on a shelf in a grocery store Cans of food stacked on a shelf in a grocery store

The Queensland Consumers Association (the ‘Association’) is disappointed with the Federal Government’s decision to merely extend the regulation that requires large supermarkets to provide the unit price for prepackaged grocery products until 1 October 2021, without making any changes. The current regulation, which has been in operation for 10 years, was due to expire on…

Read More Federal Govt’s decision on grocery price labelling disappoints consumers

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Tasmania’s building and consumer regulator, Consumer, Building and Occupational Services, has released Edition 2 of its Consumer Connections Magazine. As well as providing advice specific to Tasmanians applying for building approvals and lodging complaints against service providers, the magazine includes great tips for all consumers. Safety in the home, how to choose a suitable NBN…

Read More Consumer Connections Magazine out now